Mille Lacs – Last day for live bait – Launch trip

A friend of mine set up a launch outing out of McQuoids. We were planning Wed. July 1st but found out that no live bait would be allowed. Changed the date to Today to get in on the last day of live bait. Its been lots of years since I have been on a launch. I’ve decided to bring my own rods for myself and my wife. Hope the bite is good. They said they have been getting around 50 fish a outing. I’d be happy with that. Forecast is looking decent. Some wind out of the NE around 10 MPH to start and going down each hour. It will be kind of nice to sit back and relax while drinking a few cold ones. Has anyone here fished on a launch out of Mcquoids ? What was your thoughts.

They look like some of the nicer launch boats out there. I bet you guys hammer them.

Bass Thumb wrote:

They look like some of the nicer launch boats out there.

Yes they are!

A few years back I took my little grandson out for a morning trip.

I really enjoyed the time with him, he had a great time too. The fishing I think was average, not lights out but most everyone on board got a couple fish. An evening trip probably would be better fishing, but I preferred the morning with the little fella.

fishthumper, you shouldn’t really need to bring your own rods as they have them already set up and ready to go. Up to you I suppose.

I know some launches have gone out during previous walleye closures and I’ve wondered how well they do using artificial bait targeting bass in big boat like that. I know some launches will target northern pike with live suckers under bobbers.

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Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

I know some launches have gone out during previous walleye closures and I’ve wondered how well they do using artificial bait targeting bass in big boat like that. I know some launches will target northern pike with live suckers under bobbers.

I don’t have a Clue what they would do after the shut down of live bait. I would think trying to fish from a launch would be rather tough with artificial baits. My guess is the launches don’t get much business during these closures. I am a little curious of what structure they set up on tonight. I would think if its shallower rock there should be a chance at some good smallmouth.

It is my understanding that walleye fishing is closed altogether in July.

Erik Swenson wrote:

It is my understanding that <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye fishing is closed altogether in July.

That is how i understand it as well…. But if your out tossing plastic tubes and paddle tails, you’re likely to catch them.

Did a bachelor party launch from there 5+ years ago and we hammered fish. As stated before, I wouldn’t mess around with bringing your own rods. Cooler, beer, depth finder, that’s it.

With all the crazy Reg’s on mille Lacs. I have no idea how anyone can keep up on all of it. I also don’t know much of it can Be enforced. Targeting a Walleye – How is that different than targeting a Bass or pike ??? I throw Jerkbaits, Crankbaits, and jigs with plastics for all three and often in the same location.

EDIT after reading the stupid regs
No live, dead or parts of bait can be on the lake in July except for 8″ or larger suckers. Guess you can still toss plastics for Bass and get all the walleye you want.

joe-winter wrote:

That is how i understand it as well…. But if your out tossing plastic tubes and paddle tails, you’re likely to catch them.

bigcrappie wrote:

No lures under 8″ long can be on the lake in July. FYI that means no <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Bass fishing also as I read it.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
That is how i understand it as well…. But if your out tossing plastic tubes and paddle tails, you’re likely to catch them.

Thank you, I had not planned to go up in July but would have made sure to review the regs before making the trip.

bigcrappie wrote:

No lures under 8″ long can be on the lake in July. FYI that means no <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Bass fishing also as I read it.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
That is how i understand it as well…. But if your out tossing plastic tubes and paddle tails, you’re likely to catch them.

incorrect

You’ll hammer them. The walleye bite, especially in the evening around sunset, has been bonkers. The hot weather may slow it down soon though, so a July closure should cut down on mortality a lot.

Years ago, the DNR proposed banning live bait all season one time. It actually came out in March when they released the regulations because all the businesses wanted it to stay open and the single item that affected mortality quota poundage the most was live bait in the warm months. Well when they released this full season live bait ban, all of the businesses cried “wolf” and went back to the DNR begging them to use live bait again. The DNR caved in and reversed course but said there would likely be a closure so they accepted that instead.

Launches really can’t fish any other way other than a vertical presentation. Slip bobbering with live bait is obviously the most effective and simply way to do this, but I’ve been on a launch where we vertically jigged too. You can’t have 15-20 people in relative proximity to each other slinging lures. Its unsafe and not practical. Standard fishing boats could easily fish without live bait for a season, but a lot of them simply wouldn’t WANT to.

I do think that some of these tactics have some crossover when targeting walleyes or smallmouth. Most people would accept casting plastics or hard baits as a tactic that could target both. However, trolling lead core or dragging lindy rigs on the mud flats isn’t an argument that holds water. And deep water is where most of the walleyes will be in July so don’t get caught out there. Minnows such as suckers bigger than 8 inches are allowed, as are wax worms (intended to target perch and other panfish). All artificial lures are acceptable.

You can still bass, pike, muskie, and perch fish in July. You can’t specifically target a walleye nor can you use any live bait other than that I previously stated.

All these stupid regs
Regulations effective through Monday, Nov. 30

Mille Lacs Lake including all tributaries from the mouth upstream to posted boundaries.
•Walleye◦May 9-June 30: All walleye must be immediately released.
◦July 1-31: Walleye may not be targeted. Live, dead, preserved, or parts of minnows, fish, night crawlers, worms, leeches, and crayfish may not be used as bait. Sucker minnows longer than 8 inches may be used as bait.
◦Aug. 1-Nov. 30: All walleye must be immediately released.

•Northern pike: All greater than 30 inches must be immediately released. Limit of three from Saturday, May 9, through Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Same regulations for spearing, which concludes Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.
•Smallmouth and largemouth bass: Immediate release of all bass greater than 17 inches during the harvest season, which begins Saturday, May 23. Limit of three in combination. Smallmouth harvest ends Sunday, Sept. 13. Largemouth harvest ends Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.
•Night closure◦Effective 10 p.m. on Monday, May 11, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.
◦Monday, May 11, through Friday, June 5: No fishing for any species from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
◦Saturday, June 6, through Nov. 30: No fishing from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for species and methods listed below:◾Muskellunge and northern pike: These species may be targeted with artificial lures longer than 8 inches or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. While fishing during the night closure, you may not possess or target any species other than muskellunge or northern pike.
◾Bowfishing for rough fish: You may not possess angling equipment while bowfishing and only rough fish may be in possession.

gimruis wrote:

Minnows such as suckers bigger than 8 inches are allowed, as are wax worms (intended to target perch and other panfish).

gimruis,

During previous live bait restrictions there were no exceptions for wax worms, and I don’t find any for this upcoming ban either.

Where did you find this information?

It was a couple years ago when Tim Chapman resorted to using a piece of bacon targeting perch and ended up catching a walleye.

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I saw it in the star tribune. I’ll try to find it just bear with me

Here is it

https://www.startribune.com/mille-lacs-walleye-fishing-will-close-for-july-as-planned/571497392/

gimruis wrote:

Here is it

https://www.startribune.com/mille-lacs-walleye-fishing-will-close-for-july-as-planned/571497392/

Hmmm….I wonder where Tony Kennedy (article author) got that information?

I doubt he just made it up himself but no where in the DNR regs do I see a specific exception for allowing wax worms.

Not sure I’d test that based on this article alone unless I see another official announcement from the DNR.

Personally, It’d be a non-issue for me anyway…but I do have grandkids coming up for a week and perch/panfishing in the harbor might amuse for an hour or two.

Meanwhile we can wait for fishthumpers report…

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

I doubt he just made it up himself but no where in the DNR regs do I see a specific exception for allowing wax worms.

If it were me I’d follow the regulations posted by the DNR, not the Star Tribune.

I am not going to name names but……….
Last night and Sat night I’m out on 4 or 5 miles. I wrap up and head in so at my party barge cruising speed of 20MPH I can make a reasonable effort of being in before the 10:00 witching hour.
Launches that have a longer run inthan me stayed and in looking back the launch(s) were not moving when I was half way home.
1) Don’t you have to be “in” & not under way or have no tackle onboard to be legal?
2) If caught & cited is it clients or the driver who gets ticketed?
3) Tipping practiced for the driver and bait / net boys? Thus stay out as long as possible?

Just curious. Not being at all Tsk Tsk.

I think it recently changed to just not fishing at night. I believe driving too and from is acceptable. Obviously if chasing muskie with big baits it doesn’t apply.

It is my understanding that you can’t be out there past 10pm (other than for the specific reasons stated like muskie fishing or bow fishing). I have been in situations where there was a long line of boats waiting to load at the public access and we were out there past 10pm waiting to load. If it were me, I would not push it. I would leave before 10pm and be at the access ready to leave by the 10pm night ban. I think a conservation officer would understand the delay at an access if you were there waiting to leave after 10pm because everyone else was doing the same.

Maybe someone else can comment on their own experience. In the case of the launch, that responsibility would fall on the person in charge, the launch captain.

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

I think it recently changed to just not fishing at night. I believe driving too and from is acceptable. Obviously if chasing muskie with big baits it doesn’t apply.

This is true. You can be on the water & possess fishing gear. You just CANNOT be actively fishing. Same for the AM. No fishing before 6AM They changed this so the launches could do their 6-10PM launches instead of 5-9PM. Although some do use the 5-9P slot.

Another blow to equal rights.

IceNEyes1986 wrote:

This is true. You can be on the water & possess fishing gear. You just CANNOT be actively fishing. Same for the AM. No fishing before 6AM They changed this so the launches could do their 6-10PM launches instead of 5-9PM. Although some do use the 5-9P slot.

X2, this is correct info. You could quit fishing at 10 pm. Pull out the sleeping bag and then start fishing again at 6am if you didn’t want to pull anchor and lose your hot spot!

-J.

gimruis wrote:

Years ago, the DNR proposed banning live bait all season one time. It actually came out in March when they released the regulations

This was never a regulation. This was a proposal at the MILFAC meetings that got shot down. This and a lot of other bad ideas.

The current no live bait rule is a first for Mille Lacs.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

The current no live bait rule is a first for Mille Lacs.

-J.

Well, not exactly. During previous walleye closures there were also similar live bait restrictions.

That was why Tim Chapman was using bacon for bait targeting perch.

The proposed season long live bait ban from a few years ago would have been enforced even during open walleye season.

BTW, thought fishthumper might have provided a follow-up post on his experience yesterday.

Perhaps he exceeded his limit of bottle bass and is still “paying his fine” this morning.

Ok Ok everone. Here is my follow up post. It was a late night and yes there was a few extra bottle bass.
It was a decent outing – Not Great but good. I think the launch ended up with about 32-34 fish. There was 14 fishing. 10 from our group and 2 other couples. I think my wife and I both caught 6 fish each. McQuiods launches and equipment we all really nice. The Captain and mate did a excellent job of trying to get us fish. We moved three times to new spots and caught fish at all of them. They said the bite was a little off from recent outings. Not sure due to the heat or if there was storms that effected the bite slightly. We mainly fished in the 26-30Ft depth at each spot. Lots of missed and lost fish as well. The size of the fish were from about 9″ up to I think 27″. Good year class of the 15-17″ fish.
We did fish till close to 10. I asked the captain if they have to be off the lake by 10 or if stop fishing by 10. He said stop fishing by 10. There was still other boats out there until close to 10 as well. If anyone is ever looking for a launch outing I would give Mcquoids a call.

Side note – What is with these changing neon lights on boats and pontoons. They change colors. I don’t see how they can be legal. With the whole Green / Red front required lights for boats. These lights could sure cause a problem I would think. One second you see red and the next its green. To me it makes it hard to see which direction the boat is traveling. I guess its like strobe lights on fishhouses – Its all about the bling.

Jon Jordan wrote:

This was never a regulation. This was a proposal at the MILFAC meetings that got shot down. This and a lot of other bad ideas.

The current no live bait rule is a first for Mille Lacs.

Thanks Jon for clarifying. Its been years since they considered a season long live bait ban and I had thought it was already a firm rule, evidently it was only a proposal.

That brings up another question. If they decided to ban live bait all season long, would we be allowed to keep some fish instead? Since live bait in the warm summer months would greatly reduce hooking mortality, that poundage could be added elsewhere…like allowing the harvest of a few fish. I’d be for it.

That brings up another question. If they decided to ban live bait all season long, would we be allowed to keep some fish instead? Since live bait in the warm summer months would greatly reduce hooking mortality, that poundage could be added elsewhere…like allowing the harvest of a few fish. I’d be for it.
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Doubtful.